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Exploring Islam

Islam is the original religion that gives Muslims peace of mind and requires us to submit to the will of God. We should spread peace to portray the real image of the religion Islam. As Muslims we believe in One Unique God; Allah. Happiness, tranquillity and inner peace can be achieved by converting to Islam. Islam encourages a continuous process of self-development and self-purification. Muslims should respect others and try to maintain peace and should follow the straight path. Allah says:

وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ وَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ الْغَافِلِينَ

“Remember your Lord in yourselves with humility and in private without announcing it in the mornings and evenings, and do not be among the heedless.” (Surah Al-Araf 7:205)

Islam is not named after its founder or the community of its birth. Islam is an attributive title that signifies obedience to God, the Creator of the Universe. One of its main beauties is that it acknowledges the complete perfection, greatness, and uniqueness of God with absolutely no compromises. This is reflected in Islam’s pure teachings of the attributes of God. Allah says:

وَمَن يَبْتَغِ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا فَلَن يُقْبَلَ مِنْهُ وَهُوَ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ

“And whoever seeks other than [the] submission/Islam (as) religion then never will be accepted from and he in the Hereafter, (will be) from the losers.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:29)

Allah created humans with intellect and free will to test them as to who will willfully choose to follow His guidance. This life is an ultimate testing ground and although we cannot control everything that happens to us, we can control how we react. Islam encourages a person to focus on what is in their control, to be grateful to God for blessings, and to be patient during hardships. Patience or gratitude – this is the formula for a happy life.

The importance and benefits of Islam, emphasize the proximity between religion and daily life:

  1. Islam trends for a believer to trust and hope in God 
  2. Islam is tolerant of other religions and regards
  3. Islam is not a particular nation, colour or race
  4. Islam accepts personal morality and values
  5. Islam teaches that God is the Most Justice
  6. Islam teaches a true living an Islamic life
  7. Islam is promised Paradise to a believer
  8. Islam itself is an inherently inner peace
  9. Islam set life which is free from all evil
  10. Islam allows experiencing God’s love
  11. Islam teaches that we will be judged
  12. Islam provides equal opportunity
  13. Islam make our life better
  14. Islam the true way of life
  15. Islamic rules being a good Muslim
  16. Islam is to develop a peaceful society
  17. Islam emphasizes both evidence and faith
  18. Islam encourages a balance between hope
  19. Islam also furnishes good and evil conduct
  20. Islam respects all human being’s innocence
  21. Islam is the fastest-growing religion on earth
  22. Islam has a message to all people at all times
  23. Islam emphasizes one should not harm others
  24. Islam teaches us true happiness in Islamic life

Islam provides a social order which cannot only tend to be universal but must become universal. This is the reality of Islam. Islam counsels us to follow a better path when people insult us by not responding to them in the same manner, but rather responding to their evil with good. Islam takes the world of life and existence seriously, declaring it to be full of meaning and purpose. Life is not a sport, nor is it purposeless. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ذِكْرًا كَثِيرًا وَسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

“O you who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance and exalt Him in the morning and evening.” (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:41)

Islam declares a person to be born with a clean slate. The human being was not born evil but rather he was created good and equipped by nature to fulfil his duties. From the Islamic point of view, the drama of a person’s life is something that takes place after birth and not before. Islam does not record a human being as a degradation of the divine as it regards a human being as having instincts that are pure and good. Allah says:

وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا اللَّهَ عَدْوًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ

“Do not curse those they invoke besides Allah, lest they insult Allah in hostility without knowledge.” (Surah Al-An’am 6:108)

Islam does not present stumbling blocks to the mind. It does not make claims which overwhelm the mind. Islam does not present to a person that the human intellect cannot grasp. Anyone can understand Islam as it is a universal religion. Islam, therefore, was the first religion in the world to call for the critical examination of religious texts.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

  • “Only the saying, “Peace” (Al-Waqia, 26)
  • “Truly Allah loves the Muttaqin.” (Quran, 3:76)
  • “Enter ye here in peace and security.” (Al-Hijr, 46)
  • “Truly the religion with Allah is Islam.” (Quran: 3:19)
  • “Guidance for those conscious of Allah.” (Quran, 2:2)
  • “Then We will save the ones who had taqwa.” (Quran, 19:72)
  • “It describes reconciliation as the best policy.” (Quran: 4:128)
  • “Truly, in remembering God do hearts find rest.” (Quran 13:28)
  • “Have taqwa of Allah so that you might succeed.” (Quran, 3:200)
  • “Verily, Allah loves those who repent and who purify themselves.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:222)
  • “The truth is from your Lord. So whoever wills let him believe, and whoever will let him disbelieve.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:29)

In Islam, it is of the highest degree of faith to plunge into space and time and bring about the transformation of the world by God’s desire. Islam is affirmative action in a social setting; it is neither abstract nor isolationist. Islam establishes justice and an ordered society, regulated by law. Islam guarantees justice for all; Madinah was that class of model society. In those days justice had no price.  Allah says:

يَمُنُّونَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَسْلَمُوا قُل لَّا تَمُنُّوا عَلَيَّ إِسْلَامَكُم بَلِ اللَّهُ يَمُنُّ عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ هَدَاكُمْ لِلْإِيمَانِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَادِقِينَ

“They consider (it) a favour to you that they have accepted submission/ Say, “(Do) not consider a favour on me – your submission/Islam. Nay, Allah has conferred a favour upon you that He has guided you to the faith if you are truthful.” (Surah Al-Hujurat 49:17)

This life is an ultimate testing ground and although we cannot control everything that happens to us, we can control how we react. Islam encourages a person to focus on what is in their control, to be grateful to God for blessings, and to be patient during hardships. Patience or gratitude – this is the formula for a happy life. Islam encourages a balance between hope in God’s mercy and fear of His punishment – both of which are required to lead a positive and humble life. Allah says:

فَاذْكُرُونِي أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَاشْكُرُوا لِي وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ

“Remember Me and I will remember you, be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:152)

Islam is a religion that enables us to live our lives in harmony with nature, ourselves and God. Humans should think, plan and make sound choices and then put their trust in God. We ask Allah to give us the ability to restrain our desires and to willingly submit ourselves to His will. We should pray to Allah Almighty to guide us toward the right path and help us become pious and righteous Muslims. Ameen!